Cong willing to walk the path alone: Ashwin Kumar

Published: Sunday, June 29, 2008, 21:03 [IST]

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Alappuzha, Jun 29 (UNI) Asserting that the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal was in the national interest, Union Minister of State for Industry Ashwin Kumar today said the Congress was willing to ''walk the path alone'', if the Left parties did not drop their opposition to the deal.

Addressing the press here, the Union Minister said at the same time, the Congress would like to ensure all secular political formations in the country worked together to fight and keep away from power communal and casteist forces.

Declaring all democratic parties were always prepared for elections, Mr Kumar said the Congress was ready to take the nuclear deal issue to the people's court ''whenever necessary''.

''In my view, the Left's opposition to the deal is not only untenable, it goes against the aspirations of the nation and will do grave injustice to the future of India.

''I do hope that keeping in view the critical national imperatives, all secular forces will come together to advance the national goals,'' he added.

Stating the Congress would never compromise on national interest, Mr Kumar said as per the AICC's stated view, the nuclear deal was in the national interest.

''We will like our friends in the Left to support our point of view, but if that is not possible, we will walk the path alone,'' he added.

Mr Kumar, who earlier in the day, visited four coir yarn spinning centres in the Alappuzha District, said the Centre had committed Rs 46 crore under the Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (IIUS) for the development of the coir industry.

His Ministry was committed to the empowerment of women and the weaker sections in the coir sector, he added.